Snow Blower Safety

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Related Photos

Center Street Elementary School custodians David Barlow, left, and Rich Baird, both of Oneonta, use snow blowers to clear the sidewalk on Central Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Brit Worgan.

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January 29, 2009

Staff Report The Daily Star Thu Jan 29, 2009, 07:44 AM EST

Bassett Healthcare officials in Cooperstown issued safety suggestions for using snow blowers. Safety tips include:

Do not put hands or other body parts into chutes or near moving parts, and use appropriate objects supplied by manufacturers to clear a clog. Jammed blades are under pressure and can release after snow has been removed.

Do not disable safety mechanisms.

Wear eye protection and wear gloves to avoid frostbite. Proper footwear is advised to avoid slipping.

Do not use a snow blower on steep slopes or without good visibility.

Keep other people and pets away from the area being cleared by a snow blower.

Point the machine's chute away from people, cars or windows of a home.

Be especially careful with wet or heavy snow.

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand also recommends turning off a blower that jams, disengaging the clutch and using a stick or broom handle to clear impacted snow.